The 2021 Land Rover Defender packs legitimate off-road capability — provided you pick the right options — and makes no sacrifice in on-road comfort. It's an admirable accomplishment. Overall, we're impressed with this modern interpretation of a classic nameplate.
The Land Rover Defender returned last year to revive one of the biggest SUV icons in automotive history. While there's still a bit of a throwback feel with the design, the new Defender is a much more modern and comfortable vehicle than its forebearer. It still has plenty of off-road capability, however. For 2021, the new two-door Defender 90 — delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic — joins the lineup.
This 2021 Land Rover Defender 110 X offers substantial capability and refined comfort for those seeking a versatile, capable vehicle built to handle v...
Few automakers have come out with an SUV that can match the Defender's distinctive combination of capability, size and luxury. The Jeep Wrangler could be an option; it has evolved over the decades from a workhorse to a vehicle capable of carrying a family in relative comfort, all without giving up any off-road capabilities. There's also the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It's another premium off-roader, but the G-Class is much pricier. Oddly enough, Land Rover's Discovery does much of the same stuff as the Defender, albeit more subtly. So is the 2021 Defender the best fit for you? Check out our Expert Rating below to help you decide.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.8
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Land Rover Defender on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8/10
How does the Defender drive? Strong off-road capability typically comes at the expense of on-road handling and steering precision. But that isn't the case here. The Defender drives just like a luxury SUV should, and its transmission provides smooth and often imperceptible gear changes. The brakes are easy to control for smooth stops around town.
As for acceleration, we clocked a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.7 seconds for the Defender 110 and 6.2 seconds for the Defender 90 when equipped with the inline six-cylinder engine. That's plenty quick for an off-road-oriented SUV. Still, with 395 hp, you might expect a little more. Weight might be a culprit — our test Defenders weighed in at a portly 5,207 and 5,571 pounds for the two-door 90 and four-door 110, respectively.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Defender? The Defender travels down the road with the refinement you'd expect of a luxury-priced Land Rover. The interior remains quiet and relatively free from road vibrations even when riding on the optional 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. In terms of ride quality, our test vehicle was on the firm side when going over bumps and road imperfections, but it was likely the result of those larger, heavier wheels (18-inch wheels are standard).
The driver's seat provides a wide range of adjustment. Heating and ventilation are optional. The climate system is able to maintain a comfortable temperature, though you might need to dial in a slightly lower target temperature and fiddle with the vents to get the airflow you want.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The Defender's massive second row and tall roof give the cabin a very roomy feel. It's worth noting that passenger space remains the same whether you choose the 110 or the 90. Headroom, legroom and shoulder room are plentiful, though the steering column can get in the way of some drivers' knees when they get in. We'd recommend against the front center jump seat since its usefulness is minimal and it removes a good amount of otherwise convenient storage.
The height-adjusting air suspension, numerous grab handles and large doors make access easy in the 110, but climbing into the back of the two-door 90 will be a chore for most.
A few interior controls have steep learning curves. The climate control dials, for example, double as drive mode selectors and seat heating/ventilation adjustment. If they were touchscreen controls, they'd be a lot simpler and more intuitive. Large windows and appropriately sized mirrors make outward visibility a non-issue, and the cabin is far quieter than we'd expect of any off-road vehicle.
Technology
8/10
How’s the tech? The wide entertainment touchscreen and available digital gauge cluster are attractive and generally respond quickly to inputs. The native voice command system was a bit hit-or-miss in our tests. We had no difficulty changing stereo stations using natural language, but it couldn't decipher basic navigation requests. Fortunately you can use your smartphone's voice controls on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which are standard. Numerous connectivity options include wireless charging and multiple USB ports.
As for driving aids, the surround-view camera system helps both in parking lots and going off-road, and it provides a comprehensive view of whatever obstacle you're approaching. Adaptive cruise control is pleasant as well and makes appropriate speed corrections smoothly.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? The four-door Defender has a generous amount of storage space (34 cubic feet), both with the rear seats up or lowered for maximum capacity. The rear seats are heavy, and it can take some oomph to push them back in place. That all changes if you opt for the shorter 90. Cargo capacity is cut by more than half, and folding the rear seatbacks is a huge hassle because it requires you remove the bottom seat cushion. If you need to carry cargo, don't get the 90.
When the Defender is equipped with the air suspension, you can lower the ride height from the cargo area to make loading heavy objects a little easier. Unlike like most SUVs, the Defender has a swing-out tailgate instead of a liftgate. It swings out toward the curb, which not everyone will like because it can impede access. It's also heavy due to the mounted spare tire.
Inside, the Defender has long shelves for the front seats and multilevel storage by the center console. There are numerous places to store small items but none large enough to hold a medium-size handbag. The sheer size of the second row makes car seat installation easy with the 110, but you'll struggle to get a seat by the front pass-through with the 90. Once back there, however, the access to of the attachment points is decent.
An available tow package allows the Defender to tow 8,200 pounds. But it doesn't include a trailer brake controller, which you'll want to help control and adjust a heavy trailer's brakes.
Fuel Economy
8/10
How’s the fuel economy? Both the Defender 110 and 90 equipped with the 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder get an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined (17 city/22 highway). That's higher than most off-road-oriented SUVs such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and 4Runner, as well as the pricier Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Jeep Wrangler advertises higher figures with most of its engines.
Value
7/10
Is the Defender a good value? The Defender has a comfortable entry price at around $50,000. When optioned sensibly, it marries off-road capability and on-road refinement in a way that justifies paying the premium for it over, say, the Jeep Wrangler or Toyota 4Runner. Even equipped with a fair number of options, it costs less than the Toyota Land Cruiser.
On the downside, our test vehicle had multiple misaligned body panels and a few interior rattles. The interior materials didn't quite seem to reflect the $72,000 as-tested price — they were already showing signs of wear, markings and stains. Our test vehicle was an early build version that was undoubtedly used hard, but hard use is what a Defender should be built to withstand.
Wildcard
8/10
Personality is important to the Defender, and the new one gets the important parts of the classic Defender's proportions right. It looks cool from most angles, but we still think the front end looks a bit soft, and the optional plastic bits on the hood that are styled to look like diamond-plated metal elicit plenty of chuckles. We wish it looked a bit tougher.
The Defender drives with refinement and dignity whether you're on- or off-road. While the level of electronic control is nifty, we find it more satisfying to manually engage diff locks and low range with physical buttons and levers. Still, it's hard to argue with the seamlessness of the Defender's approach.
2021 Land Rover Defender trim level differences
The 2021 Defender is available in two body styles: the two-door Land Rover Defender 90 and four-door Land Rover Defender 110. There are a variety of trim levels depending what basic model you choose. The Defender 90 is available in base, S, X-Dynamic S, First Edition and X. The Defender 110 is offered in base, S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE and X. Compare the 2021 Land Rover Defender trim levels in-depth.
Which Defender trim does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest going with the Defender 110 SE. You get the more powerful six-cylinder engine than the base Defender as well as an appealing mix of features. As a midtier trim, you can also customize it with a few extra features without paying for the full-boat X-Dynamic HSE or X.
The 2021 Land Rover Defender has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 9 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
9 recalls found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
26V389000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
D120
Number of vehicles affected:
250857
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. The driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Defect Consequence:
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
Recall Number:
26V248000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
D126 H575
Number of vehicles affected:
170169
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Jaguar F-Pace, and 2021-2022 Jaguar E-Pace mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs.) The DC-DC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. A failure of the DC-DC converter will result in a loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Defect Consequence:
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
The remedy for this recall is currently under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed June 12, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D126 and H575.
Recall Number:
24E102000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N964
Number of vehicles affected:
485
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with Raised Air Intake (RAI) aftermarket accessory equipment, with part number VPLEP0543. The raised air intake may not be secured properly, which can allow the intake to detach from the vehicle.
Defect Consequence:
A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the RAI accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N964.
Recall Number:
23V044000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N763
Number of vehicles affected:
6724
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
Defect Consequence:
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N763.
Recall Number:
21V668000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N630
Number of vehicles affected:
32687
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Range Rover, 2022 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2021 Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, 2020-2022 Discovery, and Defender vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
Defect Consequence:
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N630.
Recall Number:
21V584000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N601
Number of vehicles affected:
7027
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Defect Consequence:
Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
Land Rover will mail owners the correct information to insert into the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N601.
Recall Number:
21V499000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N609
Number of vehicles affected:
603
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Defender 90 vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.
Defect Consequence:
A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N609.
Recall Number:
21V435000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N598
Number of vehicles affected:
2622
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Defect Consequence:
Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021. Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N598.
Recall Number:
21V424000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N599
Number of vehicles affected:
163
Defect Description:
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Defect Consequence:
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.
2020 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 First Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)
We've had ours since June 8. After 8 days, the Check Engine light went on. Land Rover then had the car for 9 days The dealer determined that three mechanical faults set the light off, but the mechanical faults were non-existent; it must have been a software issue that caused the light to come on. Land Rover (the dealer, in consultation with engineers from Land Rover USA on the east coast … and Land Rover England) cleared the Check Engine light but never determined what software issue set it off in the first place. We then got the car back, Land Rover having had it for a longer period of time than we did.
About a week later, Sirius went out. It comes in and out intermittently, and we have an appointment to have that fixed, but we can't get in to the dealer until the end of July. While waiting for that appointment, the Check Engine light came on again. I'm anticipating another long stint with a loaner.
We love the car reliability issues aside, but those reliability issues are quickly moving it into Lemon Law land.
2020 DEFENDER LEMON
1 out of 5 stars
DISSAPOINTED BUYER, 05/10/2021
2020 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)
Let's start about this vehicle. Looked great I bought it then first week I had issues with the Infotainment not working and no sound coming out. I called dealer and they said a software update is needed. Month 2 same issues now the rear door seals come undone and air coming in door while driving as it is not properly sealed. I take the vehicle to dealer and they tell me its a design flaw … and they are going to try and correct. Month 3 Ac unit not working take it back in Land rover tells me that the ac hose has a leak in it and they are going to replace it including another update to the software system. Month 6 emergency steering and braking system not working light comes on as well as coolant level low light. Also car dies on me at stop light and won't move while in drive, Have to restart and almost get rear ended. Dash & infotainment go out at night while driving on highway and turn back on a minute later. Month 7 Take to dealer they keep it for over 10 days Infotainment going out while driving, car taking a while to accelerate, car still shutting off while in gear and dropped it off at landcover dealer again and they give it back saying it was a software issue and also putting double sided tape to hold on rear seals on door. Drove vehicle home had for 1 week same issues car died again at intersection wife & daughter almost get rear ended took the vehicle back again and yet to get any calls from land rover. . I filed a case in April 26,2021 with Land Rover I have yet to hear from anyone regarding these issues of car being a lemon. I was told first that someone was reviewing my case then heard today no one has even looked at my case. I have made several attempts and yet get no responses. This vehicle has safety issues and they need to address it.
Dead on the 3rd day- LR took care of me
3 out of 5 stars
Joe M, 04/29/2021
2021 Land Rover Defender 110 P300 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Bought a new 2021 Defender X. Pretty awesome until the morning of day 3 with ~500 miles on the odometer, all safety systems failed along with a gearbox failure at 80 mph on the interstate. It barely allowed me to get to safety. The out of town dealer repaired and gave it back only to have it fail again the next morning. Of course this is in the middle of important meetings as well. … It remains at the out of town dealer now 8.5 days of the first 11 I have owned it. The dealer who sold it wont talk with me and customer care scheduled a call in two weeks. I have remained surprisingly calm in the face of all this, but as an engineer and technology developer I am a bit embarrassed I bought the car knowing Land Rover's reputation for reliability. I never thought I would be so disappointed with a $91,000 new car.
Update.... The 2021 Defender was pronounced dead after 100 days and an incredible effort to repair it. Land Rover customer care worked hard to find and deliver a new 2022 Defender. Its exactly what I was hoping for, refined and rugged. The lemon experience has left me cautious but it is an awesome vehicle and excellent support. I kept my Rubicon just in case.
Not so great .. full of glitches
2 out of 5 stars
Yalaska, 03/04/2021
2020 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A)
I’ve spent a small fortune on this car
Less than 200 miles in and the “low battery” alarm popped up and the car wouldn’t start. The car was taken to the dealer to find out after 2 weeks that there’s a faulty module (for the central screen) that keeps draining the battery
The car drove fine for a while .. then it happened again .. this time they said it was the battery
And now it … happened again (car won’t start with low battery alarm)
The car has 4K miles on it in 5 months and I love it
But if you buy it then be prepared to spend a significant amount of your time driving a loaner
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Land Rover Defender, so we've included reviews for other years of the Defender since its last redesign.
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